Railway switch



Nov. 16, 1537. s. L. EASTBURN ET AL 2,099,559

I I RAILWAY SWITCH I Filed Dec. 7/1954 3 Sheets-Sheet l ;42n1 l.........|mu= l.

111 ma num ATTORNEY 1937. I s. L. EASTBURN ET AL 2,099,559

RAILWAY SWITCH Filed Dec. 7, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 %%L M g 7 ATTORNEY 1937. s. L. EIASTBURN ET AL 2,099,559

RAILWAY SWITCH Filed Dec. '7, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jz- Z3. v 25 26 2 Patented Nov. 16, 1937 PATENT OFFICE RAILWAY SWITCH Samuel L. Eastburn, Sloatsburg, and Charles Banker, Hillburn, N. Y. assignors to Ramapo Ajax Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York 1 Application December '1, 1934, SerialNo. 756,446

6 Claims.

The invention relates, in general, to railway track equipment, and more particularly to railway switches. According to one form which the invention may assume, the switch points may be connected by fiat, vertically disposed switch rods. These rods may be rigidly connected to dogs which may be pivotally connected to clips rigidly secured to the switch points. The vertical disposition of the fiat switch rods where they pass under the stock rails assists in effectively holding down the switch points. Theswivel connection between the rods and the points relieves strain on therods and permits the. switch to be thrown more easily.

The switch rods may be single rods extending from point to point or they may be separated at the middle by insulation. Theswitch rods may have holes at their ends for connection to the operating rods or lock rods, or the operating rods and lock rods may be connected to the switch rods at the center points thereof. If desired, the vertical switch rods may be twisted to horizontal at their ends for connection to the operatin or lock rods.

A switch rod according to the invention'may be used at the extreme end of the switch point and also, if desired, one or more additional switch rods may be used at other positions along the switch points. Inaddition to single switches, the invention is applicable to derailing switches and also to double slip switches both to the switch points and center points thereof.

The. invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which Fig. 1 is aplan view of a single switch;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective .of a dog forming part of the swivel connection between. rod and point;

Figs. 4 and 5' are sections on the lines 4-4 and 55,respectively, of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a detail illustrating an alternative construction in which the rod has itsend twisted to horizontal for connection to an operating rod or look rod.

In the following description and in the claims,

various detailswillbe identified by specific names for convenience but they are intended to be as generic in their application as the art will permit. a

Like reference, characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, certain specific disclosure of the invention is made for purposes of explanation, but it will be understood that the details may be modified in various respects without departure from the broad aspect of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1, the through or stock rails are denoted by I0 and I3 and the switch points are denoted by II and I2 forming a single switch. The rail and switch point I2 may form the main line, while the rail l3 and switch point ll may form the siding or branch line- It will be understood that these rails will rest on tie plates which in turn rest on spaced wooden railway ties in the usual manner. The tie plates and ties have been, omitted in the drawings for purposes of simplicity.

The switch points H and I2 are connected by switch rod assemblies l4 and I5, assembly l5 being connected at the extreme end of the switch points and assembly l4 being connected at another position. vIf desired, one or more additional rod assemblies may also be provided connecting the switch points at other positions toward the heels of the switch points. Rods 20 and 31 may be connected to the mid points of assemblies l4 and .for operating and locking the switch. If it is not desired to extend the operating and lock rods to the mid points of the switch rods, they may be connected at the extreme ends of the switch rods, holes 2| and 38 being provided for this purpose.

The operating rod is preferably connected to the switch rod assembly l4 with thelockrodpreferably connected to the switch rod assembly 36 although, if desired, the connections may be reversed. It will be understood that the switch rod assemblies l4 and I5, together with the operating and lock rods, will be disposed between railway ties in the usual manner, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

Referring now to the rod assembly I, this assembly is made up of a pair of flat rods I8 connected by a basket l8. The basket I8 is for the purpose of insulating one rod section Hi from the other and for connecting the rod thereto.

The basket l8 may be of any well known construction, it not being necessary to describe it in basket has secured thereto a hollow lug l9 through which threaded end of rod 20 passes. Lock nuts 2| are provided for adjusting the position of rod 20 in the lug 19.

The rod sections 5 are of rectangular, oblong cross section with their planes vertically disposed as illustrated. These rod sections I6 pass under the stock rails l6 and |3 and effectively hold down the switch points. The rod sections I6 have holes 2| for connection to an operating rod, if desired.

The connection between each rod section I6 and its respective switch point is the same except that one construction is right hand, while the other is left hand. Consequently, it is only necessary to describe one connection in detail.

Referring to Fig. 3, the dog 23 is provided with depending vertical walls forming a vertical channel for receiving the rod section l6 to which it is securely bolted by bolts 21. The dog 23 has a conical journal portion 25 and a central hole 26 for a purpose hereinafter described more in detail.

Connected to the switch point'l2 is a clip 28 having a flange portion 30 rigidly bolted to the switch point |2 by bolts 3| and the reenforcing plates 29 thereof. Depending from the flange 30 is a bearing portion 32 having a conical inner surface fitting a conical surface on journal 25. A bolt 33 passes through the opening 26and an aligned opening in the bearing 32 for swiveling the dog 23 and clip 28 together.

It will be noted that the journal portion 25 overlaps the base flange of the switch point |2 '(Fig. 4) so that, even if the bolt 33 should fail, it is impossible for the dog 23 to drop out of the clip, thus providing greater safety. 7

Referring now to assembly l5, this construction is made up of rod sections 34 connected by basket 36 to which is secured a rod 31 which is preferably a lock rod. Holes 38 are provided for connection of the lock rod at these points instead of to the basket 36, if desired. It will be understood that the construction of the basket 36 and of the rod sections 34 are similar to corresponding parts in assembly l4.

The rod section 34 has a dog 4|] secured thereto by bolts 46, which is similar in construction to the dog 23. The dog 40 is swiveled to a clip 4| in a manner similar to the corresponding swivel connection in assembly l4. However, the clip 4| is of somewhat different construction from clip 28. Clip 4| has a flange 42 rigidly bolted to the extreme end of switch point l2 by bolts 45. Extending beyond the switch point is a bearing portion 43 which receives the journal portion on dog 40. Bolt 44 swivels the dog 40 to clip 4| in a manner similar to the swivel connection between dog 23 and clip 28.

In operation, it will be understood that when the switch is thrown from one position to the other, the dogs 23 and 40 swivel in the clips 28 and 4|. This reduces horizontal strains on the switch rods and makes it easier to operate the switch so that the switch can be operated at a greater distance from the tower. When the rolling stock passes over the switch; the engagement of .the switch rod sections I6 and 34 with the stock rails prevents the switch points from rising relative to the stock rails.

The disposition in a vertical plane of the switch rods as they pass under the switch points and under the stock rails provides valuable strength to effectively hold down the switch points and to prevent them from rolling from their vertical position, when subject to the heavy strains of the rolling stock passing over the switch. Furthermore, the pivot connection is doubly safe in that, if both pivot bolts 33 and 44 should fail, the dog 23 will remain in operative position since it is prevented from dropping out by the base flange of the switch point.

It will be noted that the dog bolts and nuts 21 and 46 for'fastening the dogs 23 and 40 to the switch sections I6 and 34 are accessible and visible for easy inspection at all times.

Although the invention is shown as applied to a single switch, it is obvious that it may also be applied to similar constructions, as for example,

. to 'derailing switches and double slip switches.

In the case of double slip switches the invention may be applied to both the switch points and the center points. It will, furthermore, be seen that the invention is simple and rugged and that it increases the safety of constructions in which it is used and that it provides a' more efficient hold down construction for the switch points.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a railroad switch having a stock rail and a switch point cooperating therewith, a clip comprising a flange bolted to said switch point, said flange having a laterally projecting bearing por-' tion open at the bottom thereof, a horizontally extending vertically positioned, flat tie rod passing under said switch point and stock rail, a dog having depending side flanges forming a vertical re-' cess enclosing said rod, fastening devices passing through said side flanges and rod, said dog having an upwardly projecting journal portion fitting within said bearing portion, and a swivel bolt centrally passing through said journal portion and bearing portion, said journal portion extending in above the edge of the switch point base, whereby the dog cannot drop from position even though the swivel bolt breaks. I

2. In a railroad switch having a stock rail and a switch point cooperating therewith, a clip secured to said switch point in a .position spaced from the tip of said switch point, said clip comprising a flange having a bearing portion open at the bottom thereof and projecting laterally from a mid point of the flange, a fastening device on each side of said bearing portion passing through said flange and switch point, a horizontally extending, vertically positioned, flat tie rod passing under said switch point and stock rail, a dog having depending side flanges forming a vertical recess enclosing said rod, fastening devices passing through said side flanges and rod, said dog having an upwardly projecting journal portion fitting within said bearing portion, and a swivel bolt centrally passing through said journal portion and bearing, said journal portion extending in above the edge of the switch point base, whereby the dog cannot drop from position even though the swivel bolt breaks.

3. In a single railway switch, a set of switch points, stationary rails cooperating therewith,

clips secured to the switch points, each clip comand enclosing said switch rod, horizontally extending fastening devices passing through said side flanges and rod, each dog having an upwardly projecting journal portion fitting within said bearing portion, a swivel bolt passing through said journal portion and bearing portion, said swivel bolt being aligned with said switch rod with its lower end disposed above said switch rod, said depending side flanges extending away from their respective switch points so that both ends of said dog fastening devices are readily inspectable from a point above the track.

4. In a railway track construction, a stock rail, a rail point cooperating therewith adapted to be spaced therefrom to permit passage of the wheel flanges therebetween or adapted to have engagement therewith to permit passage of the wheel treads thereacross, a clip secured to the rail point, a rod passing under said stock rail and rail point and having a dog secured thereto, said dog having a journal portion, said clip having a bearing portion receiving said journal portion, a fastening device centrally passing through said journal and bearing portions, said dog having a portion extending in above the edge of the rail point, whereby the dog cannot drop from position even though the fastening device fails.

5. In a single railway switch, a set of switch points, stationary rails cooperating therewith, clips secured to said switch points, each clip comprising a plate extending lengthwise of the switch point, horizontally extending fastening devices securing said plate to the web of said switch point, said plate carrying at the lower part thereof a horizontally extending bracket overlying the flange of the switch point, a bearing carried by said bracket and having a downwardly opening bearing surface, the top wall of said bearing having a central opening, a flat switch rod disposed edge up, dogs secured to said switch rod, each dog comprising a seat for said rod, horizontally extending fastening devices passing through said dogs and rod, each said dog having at its upper and inner end a journal fitting within said bearing and insertable from beneath, said journal having a central opening, a swivel fastening device passing through the openings in said journal and bearing, all of said horizontally extending fastening devices being inspectable from a point above the track, an edge of each said journal being located above the flange of the switch point so that said journal cannot drop out of said bearing in case said swivel device fails.

6. In a railway track construction, a stock rail, a rail point cooperating therewith and adapted to be spaced therefrom to permit passage of the wheel flanges therebetween or to have engagement therewith to permit passage of the Wheel treads thereacross, a clip comprising a plate extending lengthwise of the rail point, horizontally extending fastening devices securing said plate to the web of said rail point, said plate carrying at the lower part thereof a horizontally extending bracket overlying the flange of the rail point, a bearing carried by said bracket and having a downwardly opening bearing surface, the top wall of said bearing having a central opening, a flat switch rod disposed edge up and extending under both said rail point and said stock rail, a dog comprising an upper wall having depending side flanges secured thereto forming a vertical recess opening downwardly and snugly enclosing said tie rod, horizontally extending fastening devices passing through said side flanges and tie rod, said dog having at its upper and inner end a journal fitting within said bearing and insertable from beneath, said journal having a central opening, a swivel fastening device passing through the openings in said journal and bearing, said wall being located at about the same level as the flange of the stock rail, said journal extending above the level of the flange at the point rail and inwardly from the upper wall of the dog, all of said horizontally extending fastening devices being inspectable from a point above the track, an edge of said journal being located above said point flange to prevent said journal from dropping out of said bearing in case said swivel device fails.

SAMUEL L. EASTBURN. CHARLES BANKER. 

